Thanks the both of you. I already backed up all the files on CDs for her.

Now it's just a question of whether I can leave the laptop on for my own use while I'm staying at her flat.

My friend is bringing down my laptop from home, just in case this one commits total suicide, but since it might be a pain to figure out how to get onto her ISP via my laptop, I'm still thinking (and she prefers) that I continue to use hers.

So, to stay on or not to stay on? (It does have Windows XP, if that does make a difference.) I don't really understand how memory continues to fill up if I stay on. What kind of memory?

..xx..e